Bedding apparatus

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a bedding apparatus. In one embodiment, the bedding apparatus is configured to slip over a mattress such that the bedding apparatus substantially encloses the mattress except the front or head of the mattress. The bedding apparatus is configured such that, once installed over the mattress, there is sufficient space between the top of the mattress and the top panel of the bedding apparatus to enable a user to lay atop the mattress and under the top panel of the bedding apparatus. Additionally, once installed, the bottom panel of the bedding apparatus is positioned under the mattress such that the bedding apparatus is held in place by a combination of the weight of the mattress and the weight of the user (when the user is laying on the mattress).

The invention is claimed as follows: 
     
       1. A bedding apparatus comprising:
 (a) an upper portion including:
 (i) a top panel having a first length and a first width; 
 (ii) an upper portion left side panel connected to the top panel and having the first length and a first height; 
 (iii) an opposing upper portion right side panel connected to the top panel and having the first length and the first height; and 
 (iv) an upper portion back panel connected to the top panel, the upper portion left side panel, and the upper portion right side panel; extending between the upper portion left side panel and the upper portion right side panel; and having the first height and the first width; 
 
 (b) a lower portion including:
 (i) a bottom panel having a second length and the first width; 
 (ii) a lower portion left side panel connected to the bottom panel and having the second length and a second height; 
 (iii) an opposing lower portion right side panel connected to the bottom panel and having the second length and the second height; and 
 (iv) an upper portion back panel connected to the lower panel, the lower portion left side panel, and the lower portion right side panel; extending between the lower portion left side panel and the lower portion right side panel; and having the second height and the first width; 
 
 (c) a first attachment mechanism configured to join: (i) the upper portion left side panel with the lower portion left side panel, and (ii) a first part of the upper portion back panel with a first part of the lower portion back panel; and 
 (d) a second attachment mechanism configured to join: (i) the upper portion right side panel with the lower portion right side panel, and (ii) a second part of the upper portion back panel with a second part of the lower portion back panel. 
 
     
     
       2. The bedding apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second attachment mechanisms are zippers. 
     
     
       3. The bedding apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein an inner surface of the top panel, inner surfaces of the upper portion and lower portion back panels, inner surfaces of the upper portion and lower portion left side panels, inner surfaces of the upper portion and lower portion right side panels, and an inner surface of the bottom panel define a mattress receiving space configured to receive a mattress. 
     
     
       4. The bedding apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein at least one-half of the mattress receiving space is not occupied by the mattress after the bedding apparatus receives the mattress. 
     
     
       5. The bedding apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first height and the second height are the same. 
     
     
       6. The bedding apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first height and the second height are different. 
     
     
       7. The bedding apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first length and the second length are different. 
     
     
       8. The bedding apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first length is greater than the second length. 
     
     
       9. The bedding apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the top panel, the upper portion left side panel, the upper portion right side panel, and the upper portion back panel are integrally formed. 
     
     
       10. The bedding apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the top panel, the lower portion left side panel, the lower portion right side panel, and the lower portion back panel are integrally formed. 
     
     
       11. A bedding apparatus comprising:
 (a) an upper portion including:
 (i) a top panel having a first length and a first width; 
 (ii) an upper portion left side panel connected to the top panel and having the first length and a first height; 
 (iii) an opposing upper portion right side panel connected to the top panel and having the first length and the first height; and 
 (iv) an upper portion back panel connected to the top panel, the upper portion left side panel, and the upper portion right side panel; extending between the upper portion left side panel and the upper portion right side panel; and having the first height and the first width; 
 
 (b) a lower portion including:
 (i) a bottom panel having a second length and the first width; 
 (ii) a lower portion left side panel connected to the bottom panel and having the second length and a second height; 
 (iii) an opposing lower portion right side panel connected to the bottom panel and having the second length and the second height; and 
 (iv) an upper portion back panel connected to the lower panel, the lower portion left side panel, and the lower portion right side panel; extending between the lower portion left side panel and the lower portion right side panel; and having the second height and the first width; 
 
 (c) an attachment mechanism configured to join: (i) the upper portion left side panel with the lower portion left side panel, (ii) the upper portion back panel with the lower portion back panel, and (iii) the upper portion right side panel with the lower portion right side panel. 
 
     
     
       12. The bedding apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the attachment mechanism is a zipper. 
     
     
       13. The bedding apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein an inner surface of the top panel, inner surfaces of the upper portion and lower portion back panels, inner surfaces of the upper portion and lower portion left side panels, inner surfaces of the upper portion and lower portion right side panels, and an inner surface of the bottom panel define a mattress receiving space configured to receive a mattress. 
     
     
       14. The bedding apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein at least one-half of the mattress receiving space is not occupied by the mattress after the bedding apparatus receives the mattress. 
     
     
       15. The bedding apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first height and the second height are the same. 
     
     
       16. The bedding apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first height and the second height are different. 
     
     
       17. The bedding apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first length and the second length are different. 
     
     
       18. The bedding apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the first length is greater than the second length. 
     
     
       19. The bedding apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein: (a) the top panel, the upper portion left side panel, the upper portion right side panel, and the upper portion back panel are integrally formed, and (b) the top panel, the lower portion left side panel, the lower portion right side panel, and the lower portion back panel are integrally formed.